MY BEST ADVICE FOR WRITERS OF FACT-BASED OR FACT-INSPIRED SCRIPTS
By Elizabeth Bardsley
SAVE EVERYTHING! Seriously, that is the first thing I tell every first-time fact-based or fact-inspired writer. Typically, first-time fact-based or fact-inspired writers jump enthusiastically into research, immersing themselves in the subject matter and dwelling in the minutia. Writers generally enjoy this process and pull from a multitude of research materials as they bring real individuals to life on the page.
As the development process advances, you'll likely be adhering to input from creative executives and possibly legal counsel; revisions quickly follow, and details may become muted. Then consider the possibility that this project stalls… and stalls. Imagine, sadly, that you get a pass on this script from everyone; you go back to your day job, or maybe you're incredibly lucky and talented and go on to be involved with several more scripts over the next years. Then suddenly, there is interest in your fact-based or fact-inspired project again! All those details about your research may be but a blurred, distant memory.
So, yes, SAVE EVERYTHING!
Set up a One Drive, a Google Drive, a Dropbox, or the ilk. Take the time to create pdf documents, save articles, keep a list of books that you review and note any individuals that you contact and/or speak to.
During the script annotation process it is imperative to provide meticulous references to underlying research materials.